Sep 17, 2018 3 min read

“At first, everyone thought that he was dead,” wrote the parents of a man who was beaten last year in the parking lot of Taylorstown American Legion Post 907.

Potential jurors were in the Washington County Courthouse Monday morning to hear the attempted homicide case against Victor Simonelli, 31, of Blaine Township, but the defendant instead entered a guilty plea to an aggravated assault charge.

The victim, Gregory Sloan of Munhall, Allegheny County, according to a civil suit, was at the club the night of March 31 as guest of Kyle Forebare, a social member, for business purposes.

When they exited the bar in the early hours of April 1 after last call, they remained inside a pickup truck. Simonelli and two other men were on the porch of the post at 84 Main St.

The post’s bartender and her boyfriend told Sloan and Forebare they would have to leave the property, and a fight ensued, according to court documents, in which Sloan accused Simonelli of smashing the headlights of the vehicle.

Sloan, Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann said, was pulled from the truck and beaten with a pipe until he was unconscious. His parents, through Judy Nemeth, director of victim services for the district attorney’s office, said he may never work again due to his injuries.

Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo sentenced Simonelli to serve six to 12 years in prison and have no contact with Sloan. She left open the matter of restitution, pending the outcome of litigation.

The statement of Sloan’s parents, Lois and Gary, noted that their son had the first of six surgeries to remove part of his shattered skull. His brain was so badly injured that part of it also had to be removed. He has only partial vision in each eye, and his next surgery will be an attempt to restore hearing, but it is not expected to return to normal.

“She thanks God every day that Greg wasn’t killed, but Victor did take his life,” Nemeth said of Mrs. Sloan.

Friedmann said discussions with Simonelli’s attorneys had been taking place for months, but no agreement could be reached until preparations were being made for trial.

“Based on the allegations and the injury, it was Mr. Simonelli’s decision to accept responsibility, admit his guilt and accept the sentence that had been recommended by the district attorney’s office,” said Peter Marcoline, who represented Simonelli.

The defendant remains free on bond until he reports to the county jail by Oct. 5. Sheriff’s deputies are to transport him to a state correctional institution.

Sloan sued Simonelli and the Taylorstown American Legion post, which has retained attorneys from both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The lawsuit claims that Simonelli was served alcohol even though he and his friends were visibly intoxicated. No trial date for the suit has been scheduled.